North Carolina Long Term Care Insurance Companies and Costs
North Carolina Long Term Care Insurance
This North Carolina Long Term Care Insurance Review explains long term care planning in North Carolina. Here are the primary points discussed in this article:
- The risk of needing long term care
- The cost of long term care in North Carolina
- Types of long term care insurance
- What’s the best age to buy long term care insurance
- North Carolina Long Term Care Partnership Program
- How much does long term care insurance cost in North Carolina
- Long term care insurance companies in North Carolina
- Comparing long term care insurance quotes
Click To Get North Carolina Long Term Care Insurance Quotes. We’ll give you quotes and comparisons for the leading LTC insurance providers in North Carolina.
Long Term Care Planning
Planning ahead for future long term care needs is a critical part of retirement planning. Many people have had first-hand experience with a loved one who needed long term care services. These experiences underscore the reality of the financial and emotional stress when a loved one needs long term care.
A long term care plan can protect your retirement assets. Plus it gives you the peace of mind, knowing you can cover the cost of long term care if you need in the future. Long term care insurance also protects your family from having to be caregivers. And it enables you to choose where you’ll receive any care needed in later years.
Does Medicare Pay for Long Term Care?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people over 65 and for some younger people with disabilities. But Medicare does not pay for most long term care services. Specifically, Medicare does not pay for custodial care which makes up more than 90% of long term care. An example of custodial care is when someone needs help with walking, bathing, eating, dressing and using the toilet.
Custodial care is also what people need most when they have a physical impairment from a stroke. Or, due to cognitive impairment from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Medicare covers long term care costs. It doesn’t.
What is The Risk of Needing Long Term Care?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says about seventy percent of people over age 65 will need long term care during their lifetime.
But, the need for long term care services is not limited to seniors. There are now forty percent of people currently receiving long term care that are between the ages of 18 and 64.
Types of Long Term Care Insurance
There are two types of insurance in North Carolina that pay for long term care costs. And each type of policy has its specific advantages. One of our licensed professionals can provide more details to help you decide which is best for you.
Traditional Long Term Care Insurance – You pay an annual premium, and if you need long term care due to a cognitive or physical impairment, the policy pays for your care. Traditional LTC insurance policies make up about half of all long term care policies sold.
Click To Get Traditional Long Term Care Insurance Quotes.
Hybrid Long Term Care Insurance – Hybrid long term care policies combine the benefits of life insurance, or an annuity, with long term care benefits. You can buy a hybrid LTC policy by paying a one-time lump sum premium, or over a set period of time.
If long term care is never needed, the policy works much like a traditional life insurance policy. It would then pay a death benefit to your beneficiary when you die. And the death benefit is often similar to the amount paid for the policy. But if you need long-term care, the amount of money available can exceed the death benefit or annuity value, often several times over, offering tremendous leverage of premium dollars.
Click To Get Hybrid Long Term Care Insurance Quotes.
What’s The Best Age To Buy Long Term Care Insurance?
Like most advisers, we recommend buying long term care insurance in your fifties or early sixties. The primary reasons for this recommendation are:
- The younger you are when you buy a policy, the lower the annual premiums.
- By the time you reach your mid sixties, you’re more likely to have a medical condition that makes you ineligible for a preferred-health discount, or makes it tough to get coverage at all.
- Even though you’ll have to pay premiums a longer period of time, you’ll typically pay less overall than someone buying at an older age.
So it almost never pays to wait. And, while you’re waiting, you’re uninsured. If an accident or illness happens causing you to need long-term care, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
North Carolina Long Term Care Costs
North Carolinian’s need to know the cost of long term care services when planning for future long term care needs. The current cost of care in North Carolina, and future cost projections, tell you how much long term care insurance you should own.
A comprehensive study on national long term care costs is from the Fortune 500 company, Genworth Financial. Their 2018 Cost of Care Survey includes long term care costs of more than 15,000 long term care providers from coast to coast. Here is the current cost of long term care in North Carolina:
North Carolina Long Term Care Costs – 2018 (annual) |
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| Region | Nursing Home (private room) | Nursing Home (semi-private room) | Assisted Living (private room) | Home Health Aide (44 hours/wk) |
| North Carolina Median | $92,528 | $83,403 | $44,318 | $45,188 |
| Asheville | $97,090 | $92,163 | $53,888 | $50,336 |
| Burlington | $98,550 | $89,425 | $33,600 | $46,904 |
| Charlotte Area | $91,980 | $83,220 | $45,638 | $48,048 |
| Durham Area | $91,250 | $86,688 | $37,800 | $50,336 |
| Fayetteville | $91,250 | $73,730 | $37,200 | $50,336 |
| Goldsboro | $170,820 | $93,440 | $33,000 | $41,184 |
| Goldsboro Area | $104,755 | $94,718 | $58,590 | $41,184 |
| Greenville | $87,600 | $81,030 | $56,400 | $42,328 |
| Hickory Area | $102,748 | $92,345 | $39,600 | $45,760 |
| Jacksonville | $85,045 | $82,490 | $37,500 | $48,048 |
| New Bern | $83,768 | $79,205 | $43,050 | $41,184 |
| Raleigh | $95,995 | $85,501 | $69,000 | $46,904 |
| Rocky Mount | $96,360 | $89,790 | $33,000 | $38,896 |
| Wilmington | $88,330 | $82,125 | $64,260 | $46,858 |
| Winston Area | $87,965 | $83,403 | $50,580 | $43,472 |
| Rest of State | $86,140 | $78,110 | $39,600 | $38,896 |
North Carolina Long Term Care Partnership Program
The North Carolina Long Term Care Partnership provides North Carolinian’s the ability to shield a part, or all their assets, while still being able to qualify for Medicaid. This Medicaid qualification would be in case their long term care needs extend beyond the amount payable by their Partnership LTC insurance policy.
Insurance companies offering North Carolina LTC Partnership policies must offer specific policy benefits. This rule can help you choose the level of benefits to included in your long term care insurance policy. But, these required features can also limit flexibility in policy design and increase the cost of insurance. Thus, we always recommend comparing Partnership LTC policies to non-Partnership policies. By working with an agent who specializes in long term care insurance you can make a comparison.
In 2010, North Carolina legislators passed Session Law 2010-68. Senate Bill 1193, authorized the establishment of the North Carolina Long Term Care Partnership (LTCP) Program.
North Carolina Long Term Care Partnership Reciprocity
Reciprocity means that, if you purchase a qualifying long term care insurance partnership program policy in another State from its Long Term Care Partnership program, you will not lose your asset protection if you move to North Carolina. The State of North Carolina will also recognize accumulated asset protection for Medicaid qualification if you’re already receiving benefits under your Partnership long term care policy before you move to North Carolina.
How Much Does LTC Insurance Cost In North Carolina?
How much does long term care insurance cost in North Carolina? The answer: It depends upon your age and health history at the time you buy the insurance. Generally speaking, the younger and healthier you are the lower your premium. Your long term care insurance premiums will also depend on the following benefits you select:
- Benefit Period
- Daily Benefit
- Elimination Period (a deductible in days)
- Inflation Protection (if chosen)
Long Term Care Insurance Companies in North Carolina
North Carolina long term care insurance is available from several well respected insurance companies. We compare these companies to find you the best protection at the lowest cost. Here is a list of long term care insurance companies offering coverage in North Carolina:
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